The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(16)

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▶▶The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife

 Chapter 16: Envying Xiao Cheng

Li Shuixian had been anxiously waiting for Bai Lu the entire day but was too afraid to go to Xiao Cheng's house. Knowing that Bai Lu usually came to the market to buy groceries, she finally caught up with her. "Lu Lu, finally seeing you," Li Shuixian said. Bai Lu was not surprised at all to encounter her here and asked, "Are you also here to buy groceries?" The small town had expensive plastic bags, and not everyone had adopted them yet. People still came to the market with their own baskets, buying groceries and carrying them home. Li Shuixian had nothing in her hands, so her claim of buying groceries seemed unconvincing. However, she nodded and bluffed, "Yes, what vegetables are you planning to buy for dinner?" "I haven't decided yet, just browsing for now," Bai Lu replied as she walked towards the vegetable stalls, swaying left and right. Li Shuixian was getting anxious like an ant on a hot pot. The market was bustling with people, and occasionally, she would encounter acquaintances and relatives. She didn't want to directly ask Bai Lu for money in such a crowd. "Lu Lu, why don't you come to my place for a while? You haven't decided what to buy for dinner yet, right? You can come back and buy later," Li Shuixian extended her hand to link arms with Bai Lu. Bai Lu skillfully avoided her, changing her direction coincidentally towards where Li Shuixian was standing. Denying her another chance. Unfazed, Bai Lu continued, "If I buy later, the vegetables might not be fresh. I'll decide after looking around." As they reached a fish stall, Bai Lu stopped. The fishmonger astutely handed her a long-handled fish net. Li Shuixian expressed her disdain, "These fish are dead, right? They aren't moving at all." The fishmonger immediately stirred the water with his hand, and the seemingly lifeless fish in the pond scattered in all directions, making it evident that they were alive. Convinced, Bai Lu said, "Looks good. I'll take some fish." Li Shuixian, not satisfied, shifted her attention to another pond, "Lu Lu, these fish don't look fresh. See, their bellies are turning white." The fishmonger's face darkened, but business etiquette prevailed. He stirred the water again, and the supposedly stale grass carp immediately flipped and swam energetically. One of them even splashed water on Li Shuixian. Fuming, she exclaimed, "Are you doing this on purpose? I just said the fish aren't fresh, and you splash water at me. What kind of business are you running?!" The fishmonger didn't take her tantrum lightly, "If you can't afford it, don't come here causing trouble! A businesswoman with such a foul mouth, you probably have no business at all!" Li Shuixian, being a store owner for a few months, usually took advantage of small opportunities. She had some money, but she couldn't bear being called poor. Fueled by anger, she retorted, "Can't afford it? I'm the owner of a grocery store, why would I not afford your half-dead fish!" "Running a grocery store with such a vicious tongue. You must not have much business," the fishmonger, well-versed in dealing with businesspeople, knew what hit them where it hurt. Unable to endure the insult, Li Shuixian exploded, "You dare insult me! I can buy your stinking fish even if it's ten times the price!" "Insulting people with bad character, baseless accusations, and accusing others falsely. I don't think you're a decent person! If you can't afford it, don't come here causing trouble!" The fishmonger had enough and responded harshly. Li Shuixian, her temper flaring, even considered getting physical with the fishmonger. Onlookers gathered, enjoying the drama. --- In the evening, during dinner, a knock on the door interrupted them. Before Bai Lu could get up, Xiao Cheng had already put down his bowl and chopsticks to open the door. Wang Haofeng stood outside, looking dusty and angry. "Cheng Ge, the sand quarry won't sell sand to us. I asked around, and it's Li Chengbin causing trouble behind the scenes." Wang Haofeng was not only angry but also felt guilty. He regretted mentioning the debt when he encountered Li Chengbin. It led to a series of unfortunate events. He hadn't gone to dig the foundation in the afternoon, thinking to handle the matter as Xiao Cheng instructed. However, things didn't go as planned. "He's playing dirty, not only making us compensate but also pulling these underhanded tricks," Wang Haofeng ranted, frustrated by the day's events. Xiao Cheng contemplated for a moment. Li Chengbin's retaliation might involve more than just compensation. "Have you checked all the sand quarries in the city?" Xiao Cheng asked. Wang Haofeng nodded, "Yes, none of them are willing to sell to us. If we go to the southern city, the cost of fuel would outweigh the benefits." The town was close to the city center, and the southern city was the nearest neighboring city. However, the expenses for transportation would make it impractical. Frustrated, Wang Haofeng clenched his fist and slammed it against the wall. "Damn it! Li Chengbin is playing dirty. He took our money and is now messing with us behind the scenes." Xiao Cheng had a feeling that Li Chengbin's revenge might not be limited to monetary compensation. "All the more reason to watch out. I'll inform you later if I have any plans," Xiao Cheng said as Wang Haofeng bid farewell. As he left, a bitter and desolate expression replaced his previously angry face. He never thought that even he, who had both parents, would envy Xiao Cheng one day. He returned home to find his parents waiting for him, but they were not enjoying a meal prepared by his wife. His mother, suffering from poor eyesight, had to take care of his father while also handling household chores. His mother had caught a bad cold, unable to get up and cook. His wife, Chen Chunli, who had become the queen mother since confirming her pregnancy, stopped doing anything and simply waited for meals. Wang Haofeng never expected that he, with both parents alive, would envy Xiao Cheng one day. Before going to bed, Bai Lu saw Xiao Cheng frowning several times. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "Did Wang Haofeng come to you because of some trouble?" Xiao Cheng leaned against the bed, his brow furrowed. His left leg lay naturally flat without the blanket covering it, while his right leg was bent. His hand casually rested on his knee, playing with an unlit cigarette. He turned his head slightly to look at her.  

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